Description - Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge is one the state's most productive breeding territories for the common loon. This refuge offers a chance to bird watch at New England's most populous osprey areas. The state of New Hampshire, the state of Maine and private industries work together to preserve this large refuge while offering educational insights to the general public.

Attractions
- Lake Umbagog NWR is part of a comprehensive cooperative protection and management effort to preserve wildlife, wildlife habitat, wetlands, and timber resources along the northern Maine / New Hampshire border.

Involved with FWS in the effort are the states of New Hampshire and Maine and many private industries. The project includes 8,700 acre Umbagog Lake, associated uplands and freshwater marshes.

It protects unique habitat for many wetland dependent migratory wildlife species of concern including the bald eagle, the endangered peregrine falcon, waterfowl species such as the declining black duck, and many species of federal and state management concern including common loon, northern harrier, woodcock and others. For the common loon and osprey, it is considered the best breeding habitat in New Hampshire.

Recreation - Bird watching is the main recreation enjoyed at Lake Umbagog. An interpretive center highlights the importance of the area's habitat and its role in protecting and maintaining waterfowl, mammals and more. Fishing and boating are available seasonally.

Climate - New Hampshire residents experience four distinct seasons. Winter can be cold with average temperatures ranging around 19 degrees Fahrenheit. The cold temperatures humidity bring heavy, water-laden snow to all parts of the state. Spring begins in mid-March and lasts through May. This time of the year is referred to as mud season in the mountains. The sugar is flowing early in the season and wild flowers bloom toward the end of it. Summer is the busiest season of the year for the tourism industry. This is an excellent time to travel, mountain roads are open and most of the mud has dried. Average summer temperatures range around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Fall brings the leaf lookers to see the spectacular colors of the deciduous trees. Expect to see bus loads of people enjoying the crisp fall New England weather.

Location -
Located in northern New Hampshire along the Maine state line, the refuge borders Umbagog Lake immediately south of where SR 16 crosses the state line. The town of Errol is located a few miles to the west at the intersection of SR 26 and SR 16.

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

Trip Reports:
Add your own trip Report!Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others.
This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip reportNumber of People Encountered: 0-10 pplRecommend to a Friend: HighlyReport: Just finished a 2-week vacation in the area. Saw lots of moose, osprey at nest, bald eagles at nest, small black bear. Weather was rainy most of the time and cool. Mosquitos weren't too bad, and black flies just coming out.

Additional Information:New Hampshire Lakes - Each region of New Hampshire offers abundant opportunity for water sports. Saltwater, coldwater and warm water fishing opportunities abound. Paddlesports is a growth industry offering kayakers, canoeists and rafters hundreds of miles of recreational streams and rivers especially along the Merrimack River. Windsurfing and motorboating continue to hold the interest of the outdoor enthusiast in lakes such as Lake Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake.New Hampshire National Wildlife Refuges - The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife manage four wildlife refuges in New Hampshire including Great Bay, Wapack, John Hay and Lake Umbagog. Each refuge protects and manages biological diverse habitat while offering an educational and recreational opportunity to the public.